Multiple-display sign device

ABSTRACT

A multiple-display sign device which is capable of displaying a plurality of individual presentations on an alignment to a viewer and, in its preferred embodiment, to do so on a plurality of alignments. In the preferred embodiment, a support provides for a plurality of sign front alignments which can be brought to face a given direction by turning the support. A plurality of multiplefaced sign surface members is provided for each alignment, at least one of which is pivotally joined to the support so that at least two of the members abut each other with faces aligned toward the given direction when the respective alignment faces that direction. Means is provided for periodically turning the pivotable sign surface members relative to the support so that different faces face toward the respective directions. According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, the means for turning the sign surface members do so sequentially with respect to the alignments whereby the respective alignments present a different display after 360* of support rotation. According to another preferred but optional feature of the invention, the sign surface members are pivotally mounted to apices of a polygonal array and turn as leaves around the respective apices.

United States Patent Vetter [451 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] MULTIPLE-DISPLAY SIGN DEVICE Richard H. Vetter, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

United Artists Theatre Circuit, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.

[22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1968 [21] Appl. No.1 768,105

[72] Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

2,791,048 5/1957 Caller ..40/77.8

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 433,182 12/1911 France ..40/77.7

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-l... R. Oremland Attorney-Angus & Mon

[5 7] ABSTRACT A multiple-display sign device which is capable of displaying a plurality of individual presentations on an alignment to a viewer and, in its preferred embodiment, to do so on a plurality of alignments. In the preferred embodiment, a support provides for a plurality of sign front alignments which can be brought to face a given direction by turning the support. A plurality of multiple-faced sign surface members is provided for each alignment, at least one of which is pivotally joined to the support so that at least two of the members abut each other with faces aligned toward the given direction when the respective alignment faces that direction. Means is provided for periodically turning the pivotable sign surface members relative to the support so that different faces face toward the respective directions. According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, the means for turning the sign surface members do so sequentially with respect to the alignments whereby the respective alignments present a different display after 360 of support rotation.

According to another preferred but optional feature of the invention, the sign surface members are pivotally mounted to apices of a polygonal array and turn as leaves around the respective apices.

13 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures MULTIPLE-DISPLAY SIGN DEVICE This invention relates to a multiple-display sign device in which the displays for respective alignments can be changed.

Multiple-display sign devices are known. One of the most common forms of the device comprises a plurality of contiguous triangularly, prismatic members, each bearing three sign-displaying surfaces which are brought sequentially into alignment when prismatic members are turned and stopped each 120. A device of this type is limited to three individual displays. It is generally known that the more displays which can be provided, the more effective is the sign, and attempts have been made to increase the number of displays such as by utilizing quadrilateral prisms. However, with the use of prisms with more than three faces, problems of interference with neighboring prisms arise, and it has been necessary to provide very complicated linkages to shift the devices while the prisms were rotated, and then bring them back into registration, which not only presents disturbing interim illusions, but also requires such complicated mechanisms that the device is not ordinarily economically feasible.

Surveys have been made which indicate that there is a substantial market for multiple-display sign devices which can present a minimum of five individual displays, and it is an object of this invention to provide an even greater capacity in a device which is rugged, simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and highly reliable in operation. It does not require shifting of the axes of the members, and the displays are rendered sequentially with no more than the time lag and interference which are customarily accepted when triangular means are used.

A multiple-display sign device according to this invention includes a plurality of sign surface members, at least one of which is multiply faced and pivotable relative to the other, so as to cover and uncover adjacent displays and add its portion of display to that of an adjacent sign member. Then, for any alignment, a plurality of sequential displays can be created.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, a plurality of the foregoing is provided on a plurality of alignments, these being mounted to a rotatable support so as to multiply the display capacity of the device by the number of alignments.

According to a preferred but optional feature of the invention, means is provided for periodically turning the sign face members relative to the support do so sequentially with respect to the alignments, whereby each of the respective alignments presents a different display after 360 of support rotation.

According to another preferred but optional feature of the invention, the device includes at least three pivots which are nonlinearly aligned on said support so as to provide a plurality of alignments forming a polygon around the axis of the shaft. A plurality of multiple-faced sign surface members is pivotally mounted to each of these pivots so as to turn around the apices of the polygon so that opposite sides can face different ones of the alignments at selected times.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-section taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are cross-sections taken at lines 44 55, 66 and 7-7, respectively, of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the operation of the device;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of sign surface members useful in the device of FIGS. l3;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic illustrations of still other embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a multiple-display sign device according to the invention, which includes a framework 21 with downwardly extending members 22. It has an open face 23 facing a given direction 24 which is the normal to FIG. 1, and the downwardly facing direction in FIG. 2. This is the direction which will face the viewer of the sign. The top member 25 of the framework is the basic support for the operative mechanism and the remainder of the sign.

A power train 26 comprises a drive motor 27 mounted to the framework, which is engaged to a first power gear 28. The rotation of power gear 28 is transmitted to additional power gears 29, 30 and 31 by idler gears 32, 33, 34. It will be noted that all power gears rotate in the same direction.

There is shown a plurality of sign assemblies 35, 36, 37, 38, all of which are alike. While four are shown, one or any number may be used. Only sign member 35 will be shown and described in detail, it being understood that the remainder are like it, and will function accordingly, being driven from the same drive train.

Sign assembly 35 includes a shaft which is driven by power gear 28. This shaft rotates continuously and drives a Geneva gear 41 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), this gear having a continuous arcuate section 42 interrupted by a single tooth gear 43. It is adapted to engage sequential teeth of a three-tooth sector gear 45, this sector gear having a further integral section of six teeth 45 axially removed from the three-tooth section and rotatable therewith. In accordance with conventional Geneva operation, the arcuate section holds gear 44 against rotation until gear 44 engages the single tooth gear 43, at which time the three-tooth gear is given a one-third revolution, at which time it is again locked in the position shown in FIG. 4 awaiting one more revolution of the Geneva gear. This comprises the primary drive system for the display system yet to be described.

A shaft is attached to top member 25 of the framework and projects downwardly so as freely to journal the threetooth gear, which gear is rigidly attached to a support 51. Rotation of the gear turns the support. The support is conveniently provided in the shape of a spider with three arms 52, 53, 54 (see FIG. 5). The spider includes three depending pivots 55, 56, 57 which project downwardly from the spider and turn therewith.

A plurality of multiple-faced sign surface members is attached to the support, two of them to each of the pivots. These members are members 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63. The members are adapted to abut each other as closely as desired when in the position shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted that each of the sign assemblies 35-38 has six of these sign surface members and a display, indicated as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H for convenience in FIG. 1, shows respective pairs of each of these facing in the given direction and lying in a specific alignment.

The pivots are arranged as the apices of a polygon, namely a triangle, and are uniformly spaced around the center of this triangle, namely around shaft 50. The dotted lines 65, 66, 67

.in FIG. 5 schematically illustrate what are preferred to herein as alignments. These alignments are adapted to face in the given direction with a pair of sign surface members exposed for viewing from the given direction. It will be noted that the sign surface members hang from the support. Ordinarily, this is all the structural strength that is necessary, but the structure desired may be duplicated at the bottom, although for light sign assembly this will not customarily be the case. At the most there may be a duplication of the support below for rotary support. Customarily, the powering of the sign surface members to turn the supports will require only mechanism at one of the ends.

Means 70 for turning the sign surface members relative to the support is provided for each of the sign assemblies. Different means may, of course, be devised for this purpose, but an elegantly simple one is shown in FIGS. 3-7. An enclosure 71 is rigidly and non-rotatably attached to shaft 40 so that it is non-rotatable relative to the framework. It lies within the support and includes an internal track 72 with a circularly arcuate portion 73, an opening 74, and a pair of transition surfaces 75 and 75a. Each of multiple sign surface members 58-63 includes a follower wheel 76, 77, 78, 79, and 81, respectively. As can best be seen in FIG. 7, each pair of sign surface members attached to the same pivot also bears a respective leaf spring 82, 83, 84 whose tendency is to straighten out, and which may be bent by respective forces.

The function of the arcuate portion 73 is to hold the sign surface members exposed to the given direction in correct alignment, while the purpose of the transition surfaces and the opening is to permit for rotation of these to expose different surfaces. As can best be seen in FIG. 6, follower wheels 76, 77, 78 and 81 are held so that the leaf springs are bent and so that sign surface members 58 and 59 are held in correct alignment relative to the face of the sign. Follower wheel 80 is outside the enclosure, having run along transition surface 75 and out through the opening. The remaining follower wheel 79 will move directly across the opening so as to be engaged by transition surface 75a which will result in a turn around the pivot 57. Thereafter, follower wheel 80 will also be trapped by surface 750.

It will be noted that leaf spring 84 (FIG. 7) is straight to accomplish the rotation. The result of this arrangement is that for each 360 of travel the faces of the sign surface members will be reversed relative to the outside of the triangular prismatic structure.

In FIGS. 1-3, the sign surface members are shown as being flat structures, such as leaves, for purposes of convenience. It will sometimes be found that greater rigidity is desired than can be attained from flat leaves and yet it is not desirable to interrupt the surfaces by using flanges. A means to avoid this complication is schematically illustrated in FIG. 9 which is a cross-section of another structure in which sign surface members 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95 are shown adapted to be mounted to pivots 55, 56 and 57, just as were the flat members. However, the members of FIG. 9 have the cross-section of an isosceles triangle with an apex angle of 30 and base angle of 75 each. There is considerable more rigidity in such a structure, and there is no more interference with the neighboring structures than with flat blades. In fact, this structure illustrates the fact that any number of sign surface members may be provided at each apex with the same results. For example, isosceles triangles could be provided with three at each surface with the same construction and the same results of operation, although with obvious extensions of means to attend to the sequential turning of one leaf at a time.

FIG. 10 illustrates still other possible embodiments of the invention, wherein the pivots need not be disposed at the apices of the polygon, but in which multiple displays are still attainable for each of a plurality of alignments. Actually, FIG. 10 illustrates two embodiments, one in which all of the sign surface members are pivotable, and another in which some are fixed and some are movable.

The device of FIG. 10 includes three alignments, 100,101 and 102, on a rotatable support 103. On two alignments (100 and 101) two each of sign surface members 104,105,106 and 107 are flat, with two opposite sides. These are mounted to respective pivots 110, 111, 112 and 113. The arrows show the rotation of these members around their respective pivots to display their opposite sides sequentially for each alignment. The support is rotatable to display the alignments sequentially.

Alignment 102 could, if desired, be made the same as alignments 100 and 101. Alternatively, alignments 100 and 101 could be made the same as the illustrated alignment 102, which shows another useful feature. Furthermore, the arrangement shown for alignment 102 can be used along, as a single alignment, because a large number of displays can be produced by it alone. In the illustrated embodiment of alignment 102, two fixed sign surface members 108 and 109 are mounted to support 103. Each of pivots 114 and 115 mounts an indefinite number of pivoted sign surface members (116, 117) which are hinged at these pivots to swing the adjacency to one side of the fixed members or the other and cover and uncover adjacent areas with which their legends abut. One side of the pivoted member will have a legend with continuity to one half of the fixed member, and the opposite side will have continuity with the other. Thus, just as a book shows different legends when opened flat between different pages, so will this sign arrangement do the same and, of course, this provides a plurality of displays for each alignment. The number of these pages is immaterial, and is limited only by the physical interferences between adjacent members.

FIG. 11 shows another use for the embodiment of alignment 102 of FIG. 10. In FIG. 10, the pages" were held open and the display was that of two facing pages. The pages had to be sufficiently fiat as not to interfere with each other.

In FIG. 1 1, a single alignment 120 (not necessarily rotatable or movable, because it may be fixed) is provided, and three pivots 121, 122 and 123 are shown in line with each other. Around each (for example around pivot 122) there is a plurality of wedge-shaped, two-faced sign bearing elements 124. These are wedge-shaped and self-supporting,and constitute in total angular subtense A pair of adjacent faces 125,126 are shown on display by pivot 122. For the next display, element 124a will be moved to the position occupied by element 12412, and the pack behind the alignment will be rotated so that element 124c will occupy the position formerly occupied by element 124a. This exposes two different surfaces. The sequence can thereafter be repeated.

The scheme of operation of the device of FIG. 1 can best be seen in FIG. 8 in which six sign support members are shown, which for convenience are illustrated with respect to their sign-bearing surfaces, a, b, c, d, e, and f. These are, of course, the multiple-faced sign members 58-63. Point B represents the center of rotation of the support. The device is shown exposing to view two surfaces 6L and 6R which are one of the sequential displays. The device is rotating clockwise in FIG. 8, and it will be seen that 5L and SR were the last display which it is just preparing to change. Circle 2 represents the change of the surfaces which will now be sought. Rotation of the sign surface members in the direction of the arrows in circle 2 will result in surface 2L replacing surface 5L on the left side and of 1R moving to the right to replace 4R. Now there will be on the right-hand face of the prism the display IR and IL. Next, the support is rotated as in the direction of are 3 and 1L and IR are displayed. At that time, apex R will be the uppermost apex, and 6L and 6R will be faces exposed to the left. Surface 2L will be adjacent to apex S, and then the operation at circle 2 is repeated, which will bring surface 2R to the upper righthand side, and surface 3L to the upper left-hand side. Next, rotation along are 3 will cause 2L and 2R to be displayed in a given direction. In this manner, a continual change is provided among the members such that sequential displays are provided at each of the sign assemblies, the change being effected during the times the support is turned. The same automatic sequencing takes place at each apex. Signs of any desired number of individual sign assemblies can be provided. In order to give further guidance to the follower wheel which stands outside the enclosure, a bracket 116 is provided at each of the sign assemblies, which bracket includes a pair of arms 117, 118, the function of which is to limit the angular position of the straightened angularly rotating pair of sign surface members so as to guide the innermost one of the follower wheels across the opening without permitting it to leave the enclosure, and to guide the follower wheel which has left the enclosure back toward the transition surface 75a.

It will be seen that there is provided herein a means for sequentially showing at least six, and if desired, more, different displays on each sign assembly, which sign assemblies may be proliferated as desired. The drive is a continuously operating motor with an intermittent rotation of the support which causes a concomitant change of array while outside the view of the observer. Accordingly, this results, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 13, in a change of display at each alignment every 360. Of course, in the device indicated, the display is alternate, and the six displays will be repeated every six rotations of the drive wheel or every two rotations of the support. Other sequencing means may be devised, all within the purview of the invention. However, the device shown has the advantage that it permits changing of the devices outside of the view of the observer and without interfering with adjacent structure whereby rigidly mounted support and drive shafts may be utilized which need not themselves be shifted or subjected to adjustment.

The device, in all embodiments, is elegantly simple in concept, operation and construction, and lends itself to inexpensive construction with minimum maintenance.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the description which are given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A multiple-display sign device having a supporting framework and at least one sign assembly, said sign assembly comprising: a shaft mounted to said framework; a rotatable support mounted to said shaft; at least three pivots carried by said support, said pivots being non-linearly aligned so as to form the apices of a polygon with alignments extending along the edges of the polygon so formed, the axis of the shaft lying within the polygon; a plurality of multiple-faced sign surface members pivotally joined to each pivot and adapted to be pivoted to both alignments which intersect at the respective apex; means for intermittently turning the support, and means for periodically pivoting the sign surface members from one of its respective alignments to the other.

2. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 1 in which the sign surface members are wedge-shaped.

3. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 1 in which the means for intermittently turning the support includes a Geneva drive.

4. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 1 in which the means for periodically pivoting the sign surface members comprises: a rigid enclosure mounted to the framework and having an internal track, said track having a circularly arcuate portion, two transition portions, and an opening between the two transition portions; a follower wheel on each sign surface member spaced from its respective pivot and adapted to follow said track; and spring means biasing apart the sign surface members at each pivot, the circularly arcuate portions biasing two follower wheels in opposition to spring means so as to align a pair of sign surface members on an alignment, the exit of one follower wheel from the opening permitting another pair of sign surface members to align themselves and be rotated as a group so as to reverse the alignment of the respective sign surface members.

5. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 4 in which a bracket is mounted to the framework with arms to limit the excursion of the follower wheel which leaves the -which the means for intermittently turning the support includes a Geneva drive.

9. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 7 in which the means for periodically pivoting the sign surface members comprises: a rigid enclosure mounted to the framework and having an internal track, said track having a circularly arcuate portion, two transition portions, and an opening between the two transition portions; a follower wheel on each sign surface member spaced from its respective pivot and adapted to follow said track; and spring means biasing apart the sign surface members at each pivot, the circularly arcuate portions biasing two follower wheels in opposition to spring means so as to align a pair of sign surface members on an alignment, the exit of one follower wheel from the opening permitting another pair of sign surface members to align themselves and be rotated as a group so as to reverse the alignment of the respective si ti surface members.

10. A multipleisplay sign device according to claim 9 in which the means for intermittently turning the support includes a Geneva drive.

11. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 10 in which a bracket is mounted to the framework with arms to limit the excursion of the follower wheel which leaves the opening.

12. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 11 in which a plurality of said sign assemblies is provided in abutting alignment, and in which a power train drives all of the sign assemblies simultaneously.

13. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 12 in which the sign surface members are wedge-shaped.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,657,833 Dated April 25, 197?.

Inventor(s) RICHARD TE It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby correctedas shown below:

Col. 1 line 33 "multiply faced" should read --multi-ply-faced-- Col. 1, line 44 cancel "do so" Col. 1, line 75 "downwardly extending" should read --downwardly-extending-- Col. 2, line 2 "downwardly facing" should read --downwardly-facing-- Col. 2, line 53 "preferred" should read --referred-- Col. 3, line 65 "along" should read --alone-- Col. 3, line 7 1 "the" should read --to-- Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Parents 3 FORM PC4050 (1069) USCQMM c e0 75 I. 3 -P69 5 w u.s. eovznunznr nmmm omc: Inn o-su-au m 

1. A multiple-display sign device having a supporting framework and at least one sign assembly, said sign assembly comprising: a shaft mounted to said framework; a rOtatable support mounted to said shaft; at least three pivots carried by said support, said pivots being non-linearly aligned so as to form the apices of a polygon with alignments extending along the edges of the polygon so formed, the axis of the shaft lying within the polygon; a plurality of multiple-faced sign surface members pivotally joined to each pivot and adapted to be pivoted to both alignments which intersect at the respective apex; means for intermittently turning the support, and means for periodically pivoting the sign surface members from one of its respective alignments to the other.
 2. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 1 in which the sign surface members are wedge-shaped.
 3. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 1 in which the means for intermittently turning the support includes a Geneva drive.
 4. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 1 in which the means for periodically pivoting the sign surface members comprises: a rigid enclosure mounted to the framework and having an internal track, said track having a circularly arcuate portion, two transition portions, and an opening between the two transition portions; a follower wheel on each sign surface member spaced from its respective pivot and adapted to follow said track; and spring means biasing apart the sign surface members at each pivot, the circularly arcuate portions biasing two follower wheels in opposition to spring means so as to align a pair of sign surface members on an alignment, the exit of one follower wheel from the opening permitting another pair of sign surface members to align themselves and be rotated as a group so as to reverse the alignment of the respective sign surface members.
 5. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 4 in which a bracket is mounted to the framework with arms to limit the excursion of the follower wheel which leaves the opening.
 6. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 1 in which a plurality of said sign assemblies is provided in abutting alignment, and in which a power train drives all of the sign assemblies simultaneously.
 7. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 6 in which the polygon is a triangle.
 8. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 7 in which the means for intermittently turning the support includes a Geneva drive.
 9. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 7 in which the means for periodically pivoting the sign surface members comprises: a rigid enclosure mounted to the framework and having an internal track, said track having a circularly arcuate portion, two transition portions, and an opening between the two transition portions; a follower wheel on each sign surface member spaced from its respective pivot and adapted to follow said track; and spring means biasing apart the sign surface members at each pivot, the circularly arcuate portions biasing two follower wheels in opposition to spring means so as to align a pair of sign surface members on an alignment, the exit of one follower wheel from the opening permitting another pair of sign surface members to align themselves and be rotated as a group so as to reverse the alignment of the respective sign surface members.
 10. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 9 in which the means for intermittently turning the support includes a Geneva drive.
 11. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 10 in which a bracket is mounted to the framework with arms to limit the excursion of the follower wheel which leaves the opening.
 12. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 11 in which a plurality of said sign assemblies is provided in abutting alignment, and in which a power train drives all of the sign assemblies simultaneously.
 13. A multiple-display sign device according to claim 12 in which the sign surface members are wedge-shaped. 